Pit stops are a major part of NASCAR racing. However, when there’s too many of them, maybe some attention is lost from the viewer.
TV networks are rarely on a commercial break during pit stops. Likely, that comes from fans demanding to see the pit stops to begin with.
We might have an issue in some situations. A caution in the Cup race on lap 77 ended the stage. They didn’t go back under green until lap 96. 19 straight laps under caution isn’t good.
But, there are alternatives…
Denny Hamlin comments on NASCAR caution lengths
“Apparently, FOX, they need to see the pit stops,” Denny Hamlin stated via Actions Detrimental.
“Under caution, we’re going to commercial. Then, they open pit road. It’s a reset, we gotta line up. I couldn’t believe it. It was so long.”
“Can we get a side-by-side for the pit stops maybe? Or when you come back from your commercials, just give a recap?”
“We’re running too long under caution.”
The race Hamlin was speaking of saw 14 cautions for a total of 96 yellow flag laps.
“It was a single-car wreck, there’s not debris on the track, there’s no clean-up to be had, and it’s just yellow, yellow, yellow. I’m like, ‘Choose already,’” Hamlin said.
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Dale Earnhardt Jr comments
“I don’t really have a problem with the length of cautions in a general part of the race where it’s a natural yellow,” Dale Earnhardt Jr added.
“My problem is the length of the stage-break caution. NASCAR isn’t going to get rid of stage cautions.”
“Pocono’s a great example. They eat into 20% of the stage, with the caution. The stage breaks are manufactured cautions. They shouldn’t eat into the remaining part of the race.”
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Links
Context:
Hamlin criticized NASCAR's 19-lap caution period, calling for shorter yellow flag sequences.
Context:
Extended cautions reduce actual racing time and can hurt viewer engagement during broadcasts.
Context:
The race had 14 total cautions spanning 96 yellow flag laps, nearly 20% of some stages.
